Combined corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer.



No. 674,62L Patented May 2|, I90l. J. c. TUNNICLIFF &.-J. H. SAMUELS.

COMBINED CORN PLANTER AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

(Application filed Sept. 27, 1900,) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

N0. 674,62l. Patented May 2], IBM. J. C. TUNNICLIFF &. J. H. SAMUELS.COMBINED CORN PLANTER AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

(Application filed Sept. 27, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

is W.

No. 67 4,62l. Patented May 2|; i90l.

J. c. TUNNICLIFF & J. H. SAMUELS.

COMBINED CORN PLANTER AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

(Application filed Sept. 27, 1900.) (No Model.)

UNITIED' STATES PATENT @FTTCE.

JOIIN- (J. TUNNTQLIFF AND JONATHAN H. SAMUELS, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNORS TO D. M. SEOHLER CARRIAGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED CORN-PLANTER AND FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,621, dated May 21,1901.

- Application filed September 27, 1900. serial No, 31,297. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OHN G. TUNNIOLIFF and JONATHAN H. SAMUELS,citizens of the United States, residing at Moline, -in the county ofRock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Corn-Planter and Fertilizer-Distributor, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to improvements in corn-p1anters of theWell-known. type or kind capable of being converted at any time from acheck-row planter to adrill-planter; and it has for its objects toprovide an improved operating-bar through which the rock-shaft thatcontrols the valves in the runners can be turned and locked, so as tohold such lower valves out of operative position, thus permitting themachine to be changed from a check-row planter to a drill-planter; toprovide improved means for holding such bar: locked in position when itis in use for hold-2 ing the rock-shaft f'or drill-planting; to provideim proved devices fol-operating the lower valve of afertilizing-receptacle simultaneously with the operation of theseed-valves in the runners, so that a fertilizing material may bedropped with the corn; to provide improved means for spreading ordividing the fertilizing material as it issues from the tube thatcarries it from the fertilizer-receptacle, thereby insuring thefertilizer material being dropped at the sides of the planted corninstead of directly upon it; to providea shield or protector for thejoint in the telescopic tube employed to conduct the fertilizingmaterial from the receptacle, which will prevent to a large extent theadmission into the tube of any dirt thrown against the tube by thecarrying-wheel immediately in the rear, but which will not interferewith the free telescopic movement of the sectional tube; to provide animproved fastening for the fertilizer-receptacle, enabling suchreceptacle to be readily detached from the machine or attached to it; toprovide improved means within the control of the operator while on hisseatfor throwing into or out of use a clutch on the shaft through whichthe valves on the bottom of the fertilizer-receptacles are operated, sothat fertilizing material may be dropped with the corn or such droppingpre vented; to provide means for regulating the quantity of fertilizingmaterialto be dropped by changing the speed of rotation of the valves inthe receptacles, and to improve generally the construction and operationof machines of the type specified. We attain these objects by thedevices and combinations of devices illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter fully described.

That which We regard as new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation. Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the locking means forsecuring the fertilizer-receptacle in place.

Fig. 4 is a detail, being a view, partly in section, of the devices forsimultaneously operating the discharge-valves in the tubes through whichthe seed and fertilizing material are discharged, the fertilizerreceptacle being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a'similar view taken fromthe opposite side of the machine from that at which Fig. 4 is taken andwith the seedbox and fertilizer-receptacle and their respective tubesomitted. Fig. 6 is a rear view, enlarged, of the parts shown in Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the bar employed when it is desired toconvert the machine from a check-row planter to a drill-planter, showingalso in dotted lines the position assumed by the parts when such rod isoperated to so convert the machine to a drill-planter. Fig. 8 is asection at line 00 :0 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of thefertilizer spreader or divider and its attaching-arm.

Referring to the drawings, 11 indicates the main or wheel frame of theplanter, and 12 the run ner-frame flexibly secured together, as usual,and both of ordinary construction. 13 indicates the runners orfurrow-openers, having the usual seed-tubes 14 in the rear andcommunicating with ordinary seedboXes 15, mounted on the runner-frame.Checkrower heads are to be provided, as usual, but are not shown in thedrawings. The ordinary rotating seed-plates in the boxes 15 are operatedby the rotation of shaft 16, which is driven by a chain 17, passing overa sprocketwheel on said shaft and over another sprocketwheel keyed tothe axle 19 of the machine. This construction is old and well known andneed not therefore be more specifically described.

20 indicates the usual rock-shaft, located beneath the shaft 16 and towhich the actuating-levers on the check-rower heads are to be connected,as usual, so as to rock said shaft 20 for the purpose of operating thedroppingvalves in the runners.

The shaft 16 is provided with a clutch 21, substantially similar to thatshown and described in LettersPatent No. 593,295 to C. H. Dooley, datedNovember 9, 1897, by means of which the shaft is intermittently operatedwhen the check-rower devices are employed, but which can be readilyadjusted to permit contin uous rotation of said shaft 16 when it isdesired to convert the machine into a drill-planter. In the Dooleypatent referred to the shifting of the clutch to effect this change inthe operation of the shaft has been made through the medium of a rigidbar removably connected at its forward end to a short lever on the shaftwhich carries the clutch, and after the change was made it was necessaryto lock the bar by means of a pivoted latch. It has been found that somedifficulty has been experienced at times in adjusting a rigid bar inplace, due to slight differences in size of parts or to wear. By ourimprovements we provide a bar that can be made to fit into placeinstantly, regardless of slight changes of size in parts or slightdifferences in distance between the two points of attachment of the bar.By the construction shown no separate-locking latch or dog is required.Our improved connecting-bar (indicated by 22) is made in two parts orsections, the inner ends of which lap and are connected together bybolts or keys 24, each passing through a suitable hole in one sectionand a slot 23 in the other section. Between the two bolts or keys is acoiled spring 25, tending to force the two sections of the bar outward.This construction permits the bar as a whole to be shortened to theextent of the length of the slots 23, and hence permits the bar as awhole to be readily made to fit between its two points of attachment.This sectional bar 22 has a notch in its edge near the forward end toadapt it to be removably engaged, as was the case with the rigid bar,with the short lever 25, attached to the rock-shaft 20.

26 indicates a foot-lever, which rocks upon a shaft 27, extending acrossand secured to the frame of the machine. It has ashort lug 28 formedwith it, to which the inner end of the bar 22 is pivoted, and when suchfoot-lever is turned to force the bar 22 forward to rock the shaft forthe purpose specified the pivotal point of attachment of said bar 22with the foot-leveris carried past the center of the bar 27, on whichthe foot-lever turns, and hence forms an effectual look, as will be wellunderstood.

Referring now t-Qthfi means employed for effecting simultaneous droppingof seed and fertilizer, 29 indicates an arm securely fastened to therock-shaft 20 and to the upper end of which is pivoted one end of a link30, the other end of said link 30 being pivotally connected to one of apair of bell-crank levers 32,that are pivoted to acommon bolt 32',passing through them and the seed-tube 14, and which have locatedbetween their forward ends the usual valve 56, that closes the upper endof the tube 14. The rear ends of this pair of bell-crank levers 32 wherethey project beyond the tube 14 are connected by a bolt 33.

34 indicates a rod pivoted to the bolt 33 and extending down-in rear ofthe tube 14 and adapted to be connected at its lower end to the usuallower valve 34 in the tube 14, substantially as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 4. As shown, the upper end of the rod 34 is forked(seeFig. 6) and the bolt 33 passes through an opening in each fork.

35 indicates a rod pivoted at its upper end on the bolt 33, between theforked upper end of the rod 34, the lower end of said rod 35 beingsecured to the lower valve 36, that is pivoted at the lower end of thelower section of the telescopic tube 37, which leads from thefertilizer-receptacle 38. As shown, the rod 35 is made in two partsadapted to be screwed together, so that the length of the rod may beadjusted exactly as required. It has of course been common tosimultaneously operate the valves that control the escape of seed andfertilizer; but by our construction we provide a simpler and strongerconnection than has heretofore been used. Heretofore the pivotbolt 33has been extended beyond the side of the tube 14 and the upper end ofthe rod that actuated the fertilizer-valve was connected to suchextended end and its lower end connected with the valve through a crank.In our construction this rod-is enabled to be connected centrally to thepivot-bolt 33 on account of the forked construction of the rod 34 and isalso attached at its lower end directly to the valve at its central rearportion, thus enabling a direct pull to be had on the valve. A coiledspring 55 is employed to hold the valves and rods in their normalposition, as. shown in Figs. 5 and-6.

It is desirable in most instances that the fertilizer should not bedelivered directly uponthe planted corn, but rather that it should bedropped at each side thereof, but in close proximity to the corn. Foraccomplishing this purpose we provide a device consisting, preferably,of a single piece of sheet metal bent substantially as shown, so as topresent two sloping sides. This device (indicated by 39) is to besecured directly beneath the discharge end of the tube, with its centralridge substantially under the central part of thesaid tube. Thisfertilizer-spreader is secured in place by a suitable hanger 40, fixedto the side of the tube 37.

IIO

While in its most efficieut form our invention provides for the deliveryof the fertilizer at both sides of the row of corn, we wish itunderstood that, generically considered, our invention is not restrictedto such apparatus, as it contemplates also the embodiment in a machineof any delivering device arranged to deliver the fertilizer at the side(whether one or both sides) of the corn, as distinguished from deviceswhich discharge it so that it falls upon or above or otherwise incontact'with the corn. The form shown, however, illustrates ourinvention in its best form.

In a machine of the kind shown in which afertilizer-receptacle isemployed it is necessary that the discharge-tube of the fertilizer betelescopic in order to allow independent movement of the runner-frame,inasmuch as the fertilizer-receptacle and a portion of itsdischarge-tube are supported by the main frame, while the lower portionof such tube is carried by the runner-frame. These telescopic tubesbeing immediately in front of the carrying-wheels of the machinenecessarily catch considerable mud and other dirt that is thrown fromthe wheels, and unless the joint in the telescopic tube be protectedmuch of such dirt is liable to enter through the joint and foul and clogthe tube and its lower valve. To prevent this, we have provided a shield55, constructed of a piece of sheet metal and suitably curved to conformto the shape of the tube. It is attached in any suitable manner to theupper section of the telescopic tube and extends down sufficiently farto cover and protect the joint at the rear-portion of the tube. Itslower end is unattached, and, as shown, said lower end is sufficientlyflaring to permit the lower portion of the telescopic tube to freelyrise and fall with the movement of the runner-frame to which said lowersection is attached.

It is desirable that the fertilizer-receptacle be firmly secured inplace and yet be capable of ready removal when desired. To this end wehave provided improved means for accomplishing this.

41 indicates a socket formed in the side of the receptacle 38, near thelower end thereof, communicating with the interior of such receptacle.42 indicates a bolt which can be passed into said socket from theinterior of the receptacle, the stem of such bolt passing throughasuitable hole in the bottom of the socket, but the head being retainedtherein, as shown. The hole in the bottom of the socket while not largeenough to allow the head to pass through is-enough larger than the stemto allow such stem to be swung out laterally.

43 indicates a laterally-extending lug on the outside plate-of thesupport on which the fertilizer-receptacle rests, in which lugis anotch, as shown, in which the stem of the bolt 42 rests.

4 indicates a thumb-nut which can be screwed up tightly against the lug43, thus locking the bolt tightly in place and holding the receptacle 38firmly seated. Two of these locking devices will ordinarily be employed,located on opposite sides of the receptacle. When it is desired toremove the receptacle for any reason, the thumb-nutis to be screwed downon its stem sufficiently to permit such stem to be swung laterally clearof the notch in the lug in which it rests, and the receptacle is thenfree to be lifted off. This locking device is cheap, simple, and secure,and as the thumb-nut is not removed from the bolt when the receptacle isremoved from the machine there is little liability of either the bolt orits-nut being missing when the receptacle is to be replaced on themachine.

For feeding the fertilizing material to the tube 37 ordinary rotatingvalves or plates are employed in the bottoms of the fertilizer-receptacles, and these are driven through a shaft by means of a chain 46,which passes over a sprocket-wheel 47 on the axle 19 and over one ofseveral sprocket-wheels 48, mounted on a loose sleeve 49, adapted atitsinner end to be engaged by a spring-actuated clutch 50, keyed orotherwise firmly affixed to the shaft 15. In order that the driver mayreadily disengage this clutch in order to prevent operation of thefertilizer-dropping devices, we have provided on the clutch a wheel 51,beveled on that side which is next to the engaging end of the clutch,and above such beveled wheel is a foot-lever 52, pivoted to the frontcross-bar 53 of the main frame. Upon hearing down upon this foot-leverit bears against the beveled side of the wheel, forcing back the clutchand disengaging it from the sleeve 49, and thus of course stopping therotation of the shaft 45. No means are shown for holding the foot-lever52 out of engagement with the wheel 51; but a spring or other suitabledevice can be employed for that purpose.

In order that the fertilizing material may be dropped faster or slowerfrom the receptacles to suit different requirements, the sleeve 49 isprovided with sprocket-wheels of diiferent diameters, over any one ofwhich the chain 46 can be placed.

That which we claim as ourinvention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In acorn-planter, the combination with a machine-frame havingcarrying-wheels, of seeding mechanism, a rock-shaft, means actuated bythe rocking of said shaft for controlling the operation of said seedingmechanism, a lever carried by said rock-shaft,a bar formed of aplurality of sections slidingly connected together and adapted to beconnected with said lever,-and means for moving said bar to turn saidrock-shaft, substantially and for the purpose specified.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination with a machine-frame havingcarrying-wheels, of seeding mechanism, a rock-shaft, means actuated bythe rocking of said shaft for controlling the operation of said seedingmechanism, a lever carried by said rock-shaft, a bar formed of aplurality of sections slidin gly connected together and adapted to beconnected with said lever,aspring on said bar for forcing said sectionsoutward, and means for moving said bar to turn said rock-shaft,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination with a machine-frame havingcarrying-wheels, of seeding mechanism, a rock-shaft, means actuated bythe rocking of said shaft for controlling the operation of said seedingmechanism, a lever carried by said rock-shaft, a bar formed of twosections overlapping at their inner ends and each inner end havingformed therein a slot and a hole, a bolt or key secured in each hole andextending into the slot in the other section, a connection between thesectional bar and the said lever, and means for moving said bar to turnsaid rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a corn-planter, the combination with a machine-frame havingcarrying-wheels, of seeding mechanism, a rock-shaft, means actuated bythe rocking of said shaft for controlling the operation of said seedingmechanism, a lever carriedby said rock-shaft, a bar formed of twosections overlapping at their inner ends and each inner end havingformed therein a slot and a hole, a bolt or key secured in each hole andextending into the slot in the other section, a coiled spring locatedaround the said overlapping inner ends of the sectional bar and bearingagainst said bolts or keys, a connection between the sectional bar andthe lever, and means for moving said bar to turn said rock-shaft,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a corn-planter, the combination with a machine-frame havingcarrying-wheels, of seeding mechanism, a rock-shaft, means actuated bythe rocking of said shaft for controlling the operation of said seedingmechanism, a lever carried by said rock-shaft, a bar adapted to beconnected near one end with said lever, a lever pivotally mounted-on themachine and having the inner end of said bar pivoted to it, the latterlever being adapted tobe turned to carry the point of attachment of thebar thereto across a line drawn from the pivot of said lever to thepoint at which said rock-shaft lever is connected with said bar,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main frame havingcarrying-wheels, of a fertilizer-receptacle supported on said frame, adischarge-tube leading from said receptacle, a runner-frame attached tosaid main frame, a seedbox on said runner-frame, a dischargetube leadingtherefrom, means for dropping fertilizing material and corn from saidre-' ceptacle and box respectively into the tubes, a rock-shaft, meansfor actuating said rockshaft, a lever .pivoted to the tube leading fromthe said seedbox and adapted to be actuated through the movement of therockshaft, a pivot-bolt at the rear end of said lever, two rods attachedto said pivot-bolt, the end of one of said rods being forked and the endof the other rod lying between said forked ends, and valves in the saidtubes to which the said rods are respectively connected, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

'7. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main frame havingcarrying-wheels, of a fertilizer-receptacle supported on said frame, adischarge-tube leading from said receptacle, a runner-frame attached tosaid main frame, a seedbox on said runner-frame, adischarge tube leadingtherefrom, means for dropping fertilizing material and corn from saidreceptacle and box respectively into the tubes, a rock-shaft, means foractuating said rock-shaft, a pair of bell-crank levers pivoted onopposite sides of the tube leading from the seedboX and having theirrear ends projecting beyond the seedbox and connected to gether by apivot-bolt, means for connecting said bell-crank levers with saidrock-shaft, and two rods attached to said pivot-bolt between the ends ofsaid pair of bell-crank levers, one of said rods being located in rearof and substantially in line with the other, and each adapted to beconnected with a discharge-valve in one of the said tubes, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination of seeding mechanism, a fertilizer-receptacle havinga suitable discharge-opening, and means for deflecting fertilizerdischarged from said opening to the side of the seed deposited by saidseeding mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination of seeding mechanism, a fertilizer-receptacle havinga suitable discharge-opening, and means arranged below and in the pathof the fertilizer discharged from said opening for deflecting fertilizerto the side of the seed deposited by said seeding mechanism,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. The combination of a fertilizer-receptacle having adischarge-opening, of an inverted V-shaped spreader arranged below saiddischarge-opening with its apex uppermost and its inclined side portionsextending substantially in the line of travel of the machine,substantially as and for the purpose specified. I

11. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seedbox, a discharge-tubeleading therefrom, means for discharging corn from said box through saidtube to the ground, a fertilizer receptacle, a discharge-tube leadingtherefrom, said last-named tube being in the rear of the first-namedtube, means for discharging material from the fertilizer-receptacle tothe ground through the tube leading from said receptacle, and a devicelocated beneath said last-named tube for spreading the material issuedtherefrom so that it will fall at the side of the corn issuing from theother tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seed box, a discharge-tubeleadin g therefrom, means for discharging corn from said box throughsaid tube to the ground, a fertilizerreceptacle, a discharge-tubeleading there from, said last-named tube beingin the rear of thefirst-named tube, means for discharging material from thefertilizer-receptacle to the ground through the tube leading from saidreceptacle, and a spreader comprising two oppositely-inclined faceslocated beneath said last-named tube for deflecting the material issuingtherefrom so that it will fall at both sides of the corn dropped fromthe front tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In combination with a sectional discharge-tube of a corn-planter, ashield secured to one section of the tube and extending downsufficiently far to cover the joint between the two sections,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. The combination with a telescopic discharge-tube, of a shieldattached at its upper end to one section and extending down snfficientlyfar to cover the joint between the section to which itis attached andthe next lower section, said shield being flaring at its lower end topermit alimited telescopic movement of the sections, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

15. The combination with a receptacle, of a socket carried therebyadapted to receive a bolt-head and having an opening for the passage ofthe stem of the bolt, said socket and opening therein being of a size topermit the bolt to be swung laterally, a laterally-swinging boltsuspended from said socket, a seat for the receptacle, a fixed,laterallyextending lug provided with a notch adapted to recombinationwith a machine-frame having carrying-wheels, ofa fertilizer-receptaclecarried by said frame, a shaft for operating the devices for dischargingfertilizer from the receptacle, a sleeve loose on said shaft, a clutchfast on said shaft and adapted to engage with said sleeve, a beveledWheel securedto said clutch, a lever pivoted over said beveled wheel andadapted by being forced against the beveled face of the wheel to draw'said clutch out of engagement with the sleeve, and means for driving theshaft through the sleeve when said sleeve and clutch are in engagement,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

17. In a fertilizer-distributing apparatus, the combination with amachine-frame having carrying-wheels, of a fertilizer-receptacle carriedby said frame, a shaft for operating the devices for dischargingfertilizer from the receptacle, a sleeve on said shaft, a springactuatedclutch for connecting said, sleeve to said shaft so as to turntherewith, a beveled wheel carried by said clutch, means adapted toengage said wheel for disengaging the clutch from said sleeve, aplurality of sprocketwheels of different sizes on said sleeve, and adriving-chain driven from the axle of the carrying-wheels and adapted tobe connected to any one of the sprocket-wheels on said sleeve,substantially as and for the purpose specified.-

JOHN C. TUNNIOLIFF. JONATHAN H. SAMUELS.

Witnesses:

MoRRIs GEISMAR, A. L. MOORE.

